Tenacity, cooperation cited for sidewalk project success

Tenacity by New Bern Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey and a cooperative effort between the city and state Department of Transportation were cited Wednesday as the driving forces behind a successful $220,000 sidewalk project around H.J. MacDonald Middle School and nearby neighborhoods.

Tenacity by New Bern Alderman Johnnie Ray Kinsey and a cooperative effort between the city and state Department of Transportation were cited Wednesday as the driving forces behind a successful $220,000 sidewalk project around H.J. MacDonald Middle School and nearby neighborhoods.

A ceremony and ribbon cutting for the $100,000 Phase I was held at the school, along with an announcement that city aldermen had voted the night before to accept an additional $120,000 in federal funds, funneled through DOT, to put sidewalks in other areas along Race Track Road.

Kinsey, the Ward 4 alderman for the community around the school, said before the ceremony that “safety, fitness and a sound mind” are among his priorities as a former Mr. America and owner of a fitness center.

He said he teamed with DOT board member Hugh Overholt of New Bern to seek local funding from the Safe Routes to School program, which began in the late 1990s and now provides about $5 million annual across North Carolina. Kinsey admitted he was relentless in pursuing area DOT officials.

He said his goal was to find federal or state government money that required no local matches from the city or the Craven schools. The Safe Routes funding met those criteria.

“I was fortunate to score greatly there for the city and the schools,” he said.

The first phase included Elizabeth Avenue from Glenburnie Road, York and Concord streets and Colonial Way, providing 2,195 square-yards of concrete sidewalk, 125 square yards of concrete driveways and 22 handicap-accessible curb ramps.

The second phase will includes portions of Race Track Road where the school has a second entrance; Fairfield and Loblolly lanes and Forrest Park Drive.

City Manager Mike Epperson said that along with providing safer routes for walking students, the surrounding communities would also benefit.

“You are more likely to meet neighbors if you have sidewalks in a community,” he said. “This is one of those things that many neighborhoods in New Bern are lacking.”

City Public Works Director Mark Stephens agreed.

“Number one is safety and number two is how it connects communities to encourage them to get together,” he said. He added that sidewalks also provide pedestrian access to destinations points, including schools, parks and commercial areas.

Lane Mills, superintendent of Craven County Schools, called the addition of sidewalks an asset for the school.

“Safety is paramount,” he said. “We consider it a process, not an event.”

The first phase of the project began in the Colony Estates neighborhood in November 2012 and was recently completed. Epperson said the second phase would begin soon.

The state Safe Routes to School programs are federally funded by the National Safe Routes to School program through the Federal Highway Administration.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or Charlie.hall@newbernsj.com.